HBO Asia exec: Cable channel developing PH-themed series
ERIKA North, HBO Asia’s head of programming and production Oliver M. Pulumbarit
“Yes, that’s absolutely one of the plans we have,” said Erika North, HBO Asia’s head of programming and production, of an original series featuring Filipino actors and themes. During a phone interview, she told the Inquirer that such a project will eventually materialize, but story details have yet to be finalized.
“We’re developing a number of concepts and exploring different opportunities,” North explained. “But certainly, the Philippines is a key market for us—and I know that it has so much to offer!” She added that the show will be an “exciting” opportunity for the cable channel to work with Filipino creatives: “Once we have more news, we’ll share it,” she said.
North has a familiarity with the country, as she is half-Filipino: “My mom is Filipino, and my dad’s from Manchester. I was born in England. I spent time in Hong Kong, Sydney and Shanghai. I studied in Singapore and went to a university in England. I was in Manila for a while—to give birth to my daughter!”
She is also the executive producer of the fantasy-drama series, “Halfworlds,” which concludes in a two-part finale Sunday night (10 p.m., HBO). North was involved in the creation of other original content, including the feature film, “Dead Mine,” and the miniseries, “Serangoon Road” and “Grace.”
“Halfworlds” showcases many Asian cast members and designers. “It was a concept we organically developed in-house,” she related. “We wanted to take the concept of the Asian supernatural, set it in a modern universe, and make the action, music and style important parts of it. We wanted to focus on the tenets of Indonesian mythology, [which has parallels] with myths in the Philippines, Thailand and Malaysia.”
The show occasionally utilizes animation to help expound on its backstory. “The plates [that were later animated] were designed by Caravan Studios, made up of Indonesian comic book artists who worked with Marvel and DC,” she shared. “They drew the weapons, costumes and whatever was sketched by Sarah (the street artist played by Salvita Decorte).”
Response has been favorable so far, according to the executive producer: “Reaction to the show has been overwhelmingly positive.”
North, who has been with HBO since 2009, hopes that the success of the channel’s original Asian series leads to better opportunities, business- and creativity-wise: “I’d like to see us creating more ‘returnable’ series—and expand our repertoire, in terms of genre.”
